Vehicle dispatch indicator with color-coded, alphabetical and numerical indicia

ABSTRACT

A multi-dial, manually operable indicator employing color-coded, alphabetical and numerical indicia which are indicative of railway or road vehicle destinations, regardless of whether they may be local or outbound, major or minor vehicle defects requiring repair, other varied information requiring matching of indicia for proper vehicle selection, and other indicia affording useful information to the driver of the associated vehicle or highway or railway personnel. A novel clutch mechanism which is effective under the control of a single knob affords selective dial rotation while other manually operable knobs effect pointer operations indicative of the condition of special vehicle equipment such as refrigeration apparatus or the like.

The improved vehicle dispatch indicator which constitutes the presentinvention is designed primarily for use in connection withfreight-carrying, tractor-drawn vehicles or trailers and the primarypurpose thereof is to facilitate dispatch of such vehicles from arailroad freight yard where trailers have been brought in piggybackstyle, for example, or for dispatch of the vehicles from an interline orother terminal. The invention is, however, capable of other uses and adispatch indicator embodying the principles of the invention isadaptable to use, with or without modification as required, inconnection with the dispatch of railway freight cars or the like or ofcontainers in which items of merchandise are packaged, such containersbeing consigned to different destinations. Under certain circumstances,it may be found practical to use the present indicator in connectionwith vehicles which are supplied by various "rent-a-car" establishmentsor by truck or trailer rental agencies. Irrespective, however, of theparticular use to which the present invention may be put, the essentialfeatures of the invention are at all times preserved.

The identification and routing of highway or railroad freight vehiclesis the subject of much effort by industry. Insofar as highway vehicles,such, for example, as freight-carrying trailers are concerned, it iscurrently common practice manually to affix tags or the like to suchvehicles, the tags setting forth the designations of the variousvehicles to which they are attached. Under certain circumstances,additional information is applied to such tags as, for example,indications that the vehicles are defective and also information as tothe nature of the various defects. Alternatively, separate tags areaffixed to the vehicles to supply such information. The use of such tagsis not a uniform procedure, is subject to much misunderstanding as theresult of different interpretations by different drivers, and leads tomuch confusion. In addition to this, such tags are easily removed andfrequently they are blown away or defaced due to weather conditions.Still further, the tags are expandable and must be replaced each time avehicle destination is changed, or discarded when a mechanical defecthas been cured or a condition changed. Literally, thousands of such tagsare in use and they are quite costly.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-notedlimitations that are attendant upon present-day vehicle identificationby the use of tags or the like and, toward this end, the inventioncontemplates the provision of a novel self-contained, manually operable,indicator which employs color-coded, alphabetical and numerical indicia,the latter being indicative of vehicle destinations, vehicle defectsrequiring attention, and other varied information. The device isintended to be permanently applied to a vehicle and the informationwhich it exhibits is readily visible while the vehicle is standing stillor may be detected by suitable electronic or other scanning equipmentwhen the vehicle is moving at high speed.

According to the invention, a major portion of the information which itserves to convey is of a color-coded nature and is supplied by tworotary dials which are selectively operable so that the informationcontained thereon is visible through windows or openings in the housingof the device. Selective manipulation of the dials for informationchange purposes is attained by means of a novel clutch mechanism whichis so designed that push or pull operations which are applied to acontrol knob and are accompanied by rotation will effect rotation of neof the other of the dials. It is contemplated that one of the dials willbe used to supply information relating to vehicle destination ordesignation, while the other dial will be used to supply informationrelating to vehicle condition. Still other information as, for example,such as relates to the condition of the refrigeration system which isassociated with any given vehicle, may be supplied by a separate andfixed dial having associated therewith a manually operable pointer.

The provision of a vehicle dispatch indicator such as has briefly beenoutlined above constitutes the principal object of the presentinvention.

The provision of an indicator which is simple in its construction and,therefore, may be manufactured at a relatively low cost; one which iscomprised of a minimum number of parts, particularly relatively movingparts and, therefore, is unlikely to get out of order; one which isrugged and durable and, therefore will withstand rough usage; one whichis readily understandable and, therefore, requires no particular degreeof skill for its manipulation; one which readily lends itself touniversal color code designations involving a large number of codedcolors; one which is entirely weatherproof and therefore, is not subjectto deterioration during inclement weather; one which is capable of easeof assembly or dismantlement for purposes of inspection, replacement, orrepair of parts; one which is attractive in its appearance and pleasingin its design; and one which otherwise is well-adapted to perform theservices required of it, are further desirable features which have beenborne in mind in the production and development of the presentinvention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention not at this timeenumerated will readily become apparent as the nature of the inventionis better understood from a consideration of the following detaileddescription.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claims atthe conclusion hereof.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle dispatch indicatorembodying the principles of the present invention, a certain portion ofthe housing of the indicator being broken away for illustrativepurposes;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on thehorizontal plane indicated by the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on theline 3--3 of FIG. 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a reduced size but radially extended sectional view taken onthe line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and indicating the nature of the rear dialassembly which is employed in connection with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a reduced size but radially extended view taken on the line5--5 of FIG. 2 and indicating the nature of the front dial assemblywhich is employed in connection with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tractor-drawn freight-carryingtrailer, showing the indicator of the present invention operativelyapplied thereto; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a railroad flatcar, showing twoindicator-equipped freight-carrying trailers positioned alongsidethereof, preparatory to the mounting of such trailers on the flatcar inpiggy-back fashion.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 8 and9, these two views are presented herein as being illustrative of the useto which the present indicator may be put when associated withfreight-carrying tractor-drawn vehicles (trailers) which are designedfor highway travel. One such vehicle 10 is disclosed in FIG. 8 and it isshown as being detached from its tractor and supported in the usualmanner in a stationary position by means of the usual jack devices 12.The vehicle which has been selected for disclosure herein is of thedual-axle. box-car type having wheels 14, and an indicator embodying thepresent invention and designated in its entirety by the referencenumeral 16 is shown as being operatively applied to the vehicle 10, theapplication preferably, but not necessarily, being effected near thelower right-hand corner of the front wall 18 of the vehicle body. Thereason for this preferential application of the device 16 to the vehiclebody will be made clear when the nature of the device is fully set forthhereafter. In FIG. 9 of the drawings, a railway flatcar 20 havingflanged wheels 22 is shown as being mounted on rails 24, and a pair ofthe indicator-equipped freight-carrying trailers 10 is shown as beingdisposed in the parked end-to-end relationship alongside the flatcar 20and resting on the ground after having been lowered in the usual mannerfrom their piggy-back relationship on the flatcar. The presentation ofFIG. 9 herein is made in order to indicate that the usual flatcar serialnumber or other identifying indicia which ordinarily is applied to theopposite end regions of the opposite sides of the flatcar and which hasbeen designated herein by the reference numeral 26 ordinarily becomesconcealed behind such parked vehicles in a railway yard, and also toshow that the application of the present indicator 16 to the front walls18 of a vehicle eliminates the necessity of a driver dismounting fromhis tractor to walk behind the vehicle to identify the particularflatcar, all in a manner and for a purpose that will become clear whenthe nature of the invention is better understood.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive, and in particular to FIGS. 1and 2, the aforementioned indicator 16 involves in its generalorganization an outer shallow generally cup-shaped housing 30 having acircular front wall 32, a narrow cylindrical side wall 34, and anormally open rim from which there extends radially outwards a rimflange 36. A circular back plate 38 closes the normally open rim of thehousing 30 and is permanently secured by rivets 40 to the rim flange 36.The outer periphery of the annular rim flange 36 is rolled or beadedaround the periphery or rim of the back plate 38 as indicated at 41 inFIG. 1, and holes 42 extend through both the back plate 38 and the rimflange 36 for the reception of mounting screws or pop rivets whereby thehousing 30 of the indicator 16 may be affixed to the front wall 18 ofthe trailer 10. When the indicator is in its normal position of use asshown in FIG. 8, the housing 30 extends vertically.

The central region of the front wall 32 of the indicator housing 30 isformed with an outwardly offset circular portion 44 which joins with thegeneral plane of the front wall by means of a frusto-conical side wall46 of small slant height. Inner and outer circular hub plates 48 and 50are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the offset circular portion44 and serve to reinforce the central region of such latter portion. Athird hub plate 52 is secured by screws 53 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) to theouter hub plate 50 and serves a function that will be made clearpresently. The three hub plates 48, 50 and 52, as well as the offsetcircular portion 44 of the housing front wall 32, are formed withregistering central openings therethrough, such openings beingcollectively designated by the reference numeral 54. Projecting throughthe openings 54 is an axially and horizontally extending shaft 56, thelatter being both slidable and rotatable within the openings. Theopenings 54 thus establish a journal bearing for the shaft 56. The innerend region of the shaft is similarly journalled in an opening 58 whichis formed in a reaction plate 60, the latter, in effect, constitutingthe front wall of an elongated hood-like structure which is fixedlymounted on the inner surface of the back plate 38 of the casing 30. Saidhood-like structure also includes a relatively thick end wall 62 and apair of parallel side walls 64 but on of which appears in FIG. 2. Theend of the hook-like structure which is remote from the end wall 62 isopen and receives therethrough a flat leaf spring 66 (see FIG. 7). Theleaf spring 66 has its proximate end clamped between a pair of clampingblocks including an outer block 70 and an inner block 72. Clamp screws74 serve to effect the clamping operation, as well as to maintain theleaf spring 66 in a position spaced a small distance from the back plate38 of the housing 30. The distal end of the leaf spring 66 is bifurcatedas indicated at 76 in FIG. 7 and the furcations thereof straddle theshaft 56 and project into an annular groove 78 in the inner end regionof said shaft. The leaf spring 66 thus serves to maintain the shaft inan axially fixed position when the spring is in its free or normalstate. The shaft 56 is, however, capable of limited axial shiftingmovement through the various openings 54 and 58 in either direction and,during such shifting movement, the spring 66 flexes slightly but returnsto its normal condition when axial pressure or tension on the shaft 56is released, all in a manner and for a purpose that will be made clearpresently.

Rotation of the shaft 56, as well as axial shifting thereof, is madepossible by means of a control knob 80 which is mounted on a reducedouter front or outer end region 82 of the shaft. A diametricallyextending drive pin 84 serves to secure the knob 80 in position on thefront end of the shaft 56, while holes 86 in an apron portion 88 whichis associated with the knob 80 facilitate installation of the drive pin84.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a sector-shaped window or viewingopening 90 is provided in the offset circuit portion 44 of the frontwall 32 of the housing 30, the opening being closed by a transparentsheet 92 which may be formed of glass or a suitable plastic material.Immediately behind such viewing opening 90 is a rotary circular frontdial plate 94 of relatively small diameter (see also FIG. 2) and theradius of which is approximately equal to that of said offset circularportion 44. Such dial plate 94 is provided with a central hub 96 havingextending therethrough a central opening 98 through which the front endregion of the shaft 56 loosely projects.

The peripheral region of the front wall 32 of the housing 30 has formedtherein a sector-shaped window or viewing opening 100, and this islocated at the bottom portion of the housing as viewed in FIG. 1, suchopening being closed by a transparent sheet 102 which, like the sheet92, may be either of glass or suitable plastic material. Immediatelybehind the opening 100 is a rotary circular rear dial plate 104 ofrelatively large diameter and the radius of which is slightly less thanthat of the housing side wall 34. The dial plate 104 is provided with acentral hub 106 having extending therethrough a central opening 108through which the central portion of the shaft 56 projects loosely.

Bearing in mind that both of the hubs 96 and 106 loosely encompass theshaft 56, a single conical compression spring 110 encompasses thecentral portion of the shaft 56 and is interposed between the two hubs96 and 106, the spring serving yieldingly to bias the front dial plate94 forwardly within the housing 30, i.e., upwardly as viewed in FIG. 2,and to bias the rear dial plate 104 rearwardly, i.e., downwardly asviewed in FIG. 2.

The shaft 56 is provided with a clutch device by means of which it iscapable of selectively applying torque to the two dial plates 94 and104, such clutch device comprising a radially projecting clutch pin orfinger 112 which extends radially outwardly from the medial or centralportion of the shaft 56 and is designed for cooperation with a series offour or more radial clutch recesses 114 (see FIG. 4) in the rear face ofthe hub 106 and with a similar series of radial clutch recesses 116 (seeFIG. 5) in the front face of the hub 96, depending, of course, upon theaxial position of the shaft 56. Upon inward shift of the knob 80, andconsequently, of the shaft 56, the radial clutch pin or finger 112 willenter one of the clutch recesses 116 so that if the shaft 56 is rotatedin one direction or the other while maintaining the knob on its shiftedposition, the clutch finger 112 will apply torque to the dial plate 104for rotational purposes. Similarly, if the knob is pulled forwardly oroutwardly away from the housing 30 and simultaneously rotated in onedirection or the other, the clutch finger 112 will enter one of the fourrecesses 114 in the rear face of the hub 96 and cause a correspondingrotation of the dial plate 94.

Rotation of the knob 80 and the shaft 56 when the shaft is in itsneutral position as the result of being neither shifted inwards norpulled outwardly will be without function since the clutch pin or finger112 will be out of contact with the recess in either the hub 96 or thehub 106.

It will be understood that calibration or the application of indica tothe dial plates 94 and 104 will be made according to the particular useto which the indicator as a whole is intended to be used. In theexemplary form of the invention wherein the indicator is employed as avehicle dispatch indicator, it is contemplated that the rear dial plate104 shall be divided into sectors as shown in FIG. 4 and thatdifferently colored sectors be employed according to a readilyunderstandable color code to indicate vehicle destinations as, forexample, cites, states, or other geographical areas. For exemplarypurposes, the disk-like dial plate 104 is shown as being divided intosixteen sectors, each sector, in addition to be differently colored fromeach other sector, being supplied with a numeral which becomes visiblethrough the window opening 100 when its associated sector is alignedwith such opening. Additional printed or otherwise marked indicia mayalso be applied to the various sectors as desired, examples of suchindicia being the words "U.S. MAIL" in sector No. 15 and the word"LOCAL" in sector No. 1.

Where vehicle dispatch use is intended for the indicator 16, it iscontemplated that the small forward dial plate 94 shall be divided intofour 90° sectors, likewise color coded in a readily understandablemanner with the individual sectors having printed indicia or informationthereon. As shown in FIG. 5, the sector labelled "EMPTY OK FOR LOADING"may be colored green. The sector labelled "INBOUND LOCAL OR INTERCHANGE"may be colored white. The sector labelled "OUTBOUND" indicates that thetrailer is loaded and ready for shipment and it may be colored yellow.The sector labelled "BAD ORDER" is intended to imply that there is adefect and that the trailer should not be loaded nor transportedcommercially. This latter sector appears through the window opening 90in FIG. 6 and, as shown in this view, the specific nature of the defectis printed in the vicinity of a series of radially extending word-typeindicia which are designed for cooperation with a manually operablepointer arm 120, they being also shown, at least in part, in FIG. 1.

The pointer arm 120 is pivotally mounted on the front or outer endregion of the shaft 56 for swinging movement about the axis of thelatter between the full and dotted-line positions in which it is shownin FIG. 6. The pointer arm is confined between the aformentioned hubplates 50 and 52 and the extent of its approximately 90° travel islimited by a pair of generally triangular limit stops 122 and 124, thelatter being integrally formed on the inner side of the hub plate 52.Said pointer arm 120 is provided at its inner end with an indicatingpointer 126 (see FIGS. 1 and 6) and at its outer end with a rolled orbent manipulating loop 128, the latter being accessible from the outsidethe casing 30. The pointer 20 is functional only when the sectorlabelled "BAD ORDER" is in position behind the window opening 90although, if desired, radial markings similar to those employed on the"BAD ORDER" sector of the small forward dial 94 may be applied to any orall of the other sectors of the dial plate 94 for cooperation with thepointer 126 of the pivoted pointer arm 120.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 7 of the drawings, detent means are providedfor effecting accurate register of the various indicating sectors of therear dial plate 104 with the window opening 100. Accordingly, the frontface of the plate 60 has formed therein a circular row of detentrecesses 130, there being one recess for each sector of said dial plate104. Fixedly secured as by welding in small pockets in the rear face ofthe hub 106 of the dial plate 104 is a series of circumferentiallyarranged detent balls 132. The particular number of balls 132 employedis not critical, four quadrilaterally arranged balls being adequate forthe intended purpose. Since the conical spring 110 serves yieldingly tobias the plate 104 and its associated hub 106 rearwardly toward theplate 60, it will be apparent that the detent balls 132 and recesses 130effect the necessary detent action between the hub 106 and the plate 60whereby the balls may ride out of respective recesses 130, slidecircumferentially about the front face of the plate 60 and then enterthe next adjacent recesses each time the dial 104 is indexed one sector,the plate 60 acting as a reaction plate.

Similar detent means are also provided for effecting accurate registerof the various indicating sectors of the front dial plate 94 with thewindow opening 90, such detent means assuming the form of fixed detentballs 134 on the rear or back side of the circular hub plate 48 and aseries of four cooperating quadrilaterally arranged detent recesses 136on the front face of the hub 96. The desired detent action takes placeincident to the forward pressure of the spring 110 against the hub 96which yieldingly urges the latter toward the reaction hub plate 48.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, at a suitable regionaround the peripheral region of the front wall 32 of the casing 30, dialand pointer means are provided for indicating the condition of specialequipment, as for example, the condition of any refrigeration systemwhich may be associated with the trailer vehicle. Accordingly, as shownin FIG. 3, a small pointer 140 is operable under the control of a rotaryknob 142 and cooperates with a series of three color coded indicia whichmay be in the form of circular spots on the front face of the front wall32 of the housing 30. Preferably the color green will indicate that therefrigeration system is in good condition, the color red will indicatethat the system is defective and requires major repairs, while the coloryellow will indicate that the system requires minor repairs or is on"hold" because of being out of fuel and, consequently, requiresre-starting in order to maintain the proper temperature within theassociated trailor vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary knob 142 issecured on a headed retaining pin 144 by means of a set screw 146, whilea "Belleville" type washer 148 offers the necessary frictional restraintto maintain the pointer 140 in any selected indicating position.

It is deemed unnecessary to describe the operation of the hereindisclosed dispatch indicator with specific reference to any particularcolor-coding system or to any particular numerical or other indiciawhich may be applied to the various disk sectors. It is recognized thatthe color red has universally been adopted, as in the case of aconventional stop and go street signal, to indicate danger or otherwiseto place a restriction upon the driver of a vehicle and, therefore, itis quite appropriate to use a color code herein wherein the color redindicates a bad order defect insofar as the forward dial plate 94 isconcerned, and to indicate a bad order defect such as an improperlyworking refrigeration system insofar as the pointer 126 and itsassociated indicia are concerned. Similarly, the use of the color greento indiciate a trailer vehicle which is in good order, i.e., ready forloading, appears to be appropriate. The primary color yellow for thesame reasons appears to be appropriate to designate a trailer that iscompletely loaded and ready for shipment. Obviously, the invention isnot to be limited to any specific color code or to any particularprinted or otherwise marked indicia, especially since indicatorsembodying the principles of the invention may be found useful inconnection with the shipment of individual parcels, containers,packages, crates or the like emanating from a storage area andirrespective of any particular mode of transportation.

In the operation of the herein described indicator 16, the flat leafspring 66 will normally maintain the shaft 56 and its clutch component,namely, the radial pin or finger 112, in a neutral or inoperativeposition so that rotation of the control knob 80 will be withoutfunction. When it is desired to effect a change in the indicia appearingin the window opening 100, it is merely necessary for the operatormanually to push or shift inwards (rearwards) the control knob 80,whereupon the shaft 56 will shift rearwardly, thus flexing the leafspring 66 and causing the clutch finger 112 to engage the upper surfaceof the hub 106. If the radial clutch finger 112 happens to registervertically with one of the several radial clutch recesses 116, suchfinger will immediately enter the recess. If the finger and a recess arenot in vertical register, a slight degree of rotational movement of theknob 80 in one direction or the other while still maintaining rearwardpressure thereon will cause the finger to seek the nearest recess forentry purposes. After the finger 112 has thus entered a particularrecess, the knob may be turned in either direction and, when so turned,the finger will apply torque to the hub 106 and, consequently, the dialplate 104 as a whole. This rotation of the dial plate may be continueduntil the desired sector of the plate appears behind the window opening100. During such rotation of the dial plate 104, the detent balls 130which are fixedly mounted on and move bodily with the hub 106 willtraverse the depressions 130 in the plate 60 and finally come to rest ina selected depression where the desired indicia sector is visiblethrough the window opening 100. Upon release of the control knob 80, theflat, but now flexed, leaf spring 66 will again assume its flat planarcondition, thereby moving the shaft 56 to its neutral position andwithdrawing the radial clutch pin 112 from the clutch recess 116.

When it is desired to effect a change in the indicia appearing in thewindow opening 90, the operator will pull the control knob 80 forwardly,i.e., away from the front wall 32 of the indicator housing 30, therebycausing the shaft 56 to slide forwardly and bring the radial clutchfinger 112 into engagement with the rear face of the hub 96, therebycausing the flat leaf spring 66 to flex forwardly. Rotation of thecontrol knob 80 in either direction while maintaining an outward pullthereon will cause rotation of the shaft 56 until such time as theradial clutch finger 112 enters one of the radial clutch recesses 114 inthe rear side of the hub 96. Continued rotation of the knob 80 will thencause torque to be transmitted to the hub 96 by the finger 112 and, as aconsequence, the dial plate 94 will be rotated until such time as thedesired indicia sector is caused to register with the window opening 90.Release of the control knob 90 will cause the shaft 56 to be returned toits neutral position under the influence of the leaf spring 66.

If the operator selects the particular sector which is labelled "BADORDER" and is preferably colored red, the specific cause of such badorder or defect may be indicated by manipulating the pointer arm 120until its pointer 126 registers with the particular radial marking whichindicates such cause. Finally, if the trailer or other vehicle to whichthe indicator 16 is applied is equipped with refrigeration apparatus,the condition of such apparatus may readily be indicated by manipulationof the control knob 142 in the manner previously indicated.

The utility of the present indicator when employed in connection withhighway trailer dispatching operations is exemplified in FIGS. 8 and 9.Positioning of the devices on the front walls 18 of the trailer vehiclesat the region indicated in FIG. 8 affords a convenient viewing angle fora driver of a tractor passing along a row of such trailers fortrailer-identification purposes, especially since such vehicles areordinarily aligned in rows in end-to-end fashion.

When trailers of the character under consideration are deposited in arailway freight yard as shown in FIG. 9, they are ordinarily positionedon the ground alongside the various flatcars from which they have beenunloaded, two such trailers being assigned to each flatcar. In such aninstance, the over-all length of the two trailers when positioned inend-to-end fashion is approximately equal to or slightly less than thelength of the flatcar so that the usual serial numbers 26 which areapplied to the side walls of the flatcar are concealed by the trailers.In such an instance, if a particular driver is attempting to locate agiven flatcar and its associated trailers, he is obliged to dismountfrom his tractor and walk behind one of the trailers in order toascertain the flatcar serial number. By the use of the presentindicator, his code book or sheet will inform him of the color-codedinformation he is seeking and, when he recognizes it upon approachingthe proper trailer vehicle or vehicles, there will be no necessity forhim to dismount for the purpose of railway flatcar identification.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Forexample, although the particular indicator which is illustrated anddescribed herein has been specifically related to the dispatch oftractor-drawn freight-carrying trailer vehicles, it will be distinctlyunderstood that other uses for the indicator are contemplated, as, forexample, the identification and dispatching of railway vehicles,large-strapped cartons, crates, or other packages or the like, or forthe dispatching of merchandise, or the identification thereof,regardless of the nature of such merchandise. Therefore, only insofar asthe invention is particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims isthe same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by letters patent is:
 1. A dispatch indicator designed forapplication to a vehicle or other merchandise-enclosing container andadapted to .Iadd.assume an upright position on the vehicle and.Iaddend.render shipping instructions, said indicator comprising ahousing having a rear wall, a front wall and an interconnectingcontinuous side wall, said front wall being provided with a central hub,a .Iadd.horizontal .Iaddend.shaft mounted in said hub for rotation andalso limited axial sliding movement endwise therethrough, said frontwall being provided with a first viewing opening in the peripheralregion thereof and with a second viewing opening in the medial portionthereof at a region displaced radially inwardly of the first viewingopening, a relatively large diameter circular rear dial plate coaxialwith said shaft and .Iadd.having a centrally disposed opening.Iaddend.through which the .[.latter.]. .Iadd.shaft .Iaddend.looselyprojects, a relatively small diameter circular front dial plate coaxialwith said shaft and .Iadd.having a centrally disposed opening.Iaddend.through which the .[.latter.]. .Iadd.shaft .Iaddend.looselyprojects, said large diameter .Iadd. rear .Iaddend.dial .Iadd.plate.Iaddend.presenting indicia sectors which are visible through said firstviewing opening, said small diameter .Iadd.front .Iaddend.dial.Iadd.plate .Iaddend.presenting indicia sectors which are visiblethrough said second viewing opening, spring means interposed betweensaid .Iadd.front and rear .Iaddend.dial plates .Iadd.and serving.Iaddend.yieldingly .[.biasing.]. .Iadd.to bias .Iaddend.the same apart,a fixed front reaction plate carried by said front wall for assimilating.[.the rearward.]. thrust of said front dial plate .Iadd.in thedirection of said front wall.Iaddend., a fixed rear reaction platecarried by said rear wall for assimilating .[.the forward.]. thrust ofthe rear dial plate .Iadd.in the direction of said rear wall,.Iaddend.each .[.reaction.]. .Iadd.dial .Iaddend.plate being formed.Iadd.in the central portion thereof .Iaddend.with a plurality ofradially extending clutch recesses therein, a radially projecting clutchfinger mounted on said shaft and designed for selective cooperation withsaid recesses depending upon the axial position of said shaft, means foryieldingly biasing said shaft to a medial position wherein said clutchfinger is out of effective engagement with said dial plates, a circularrow of detent depressions and a series of fixed cooperating detentprotuberances effective between each dial plate and its associated fixedreaction plate to restrain rotational movement of such plate when anindicia sector thereon is in register with its associated viewingopening, and a control knob mounted on the forward end of said shaftexteriorly of the housing .Iadd.and adapted for use in rotating andaxially shifting said shaft. .Iaddend.
 2. A dispatch indicator as setforth in claim 1 and wherein the circular rows of depressions areprovided in the reaction plates and the protuberances are provided onthe dial plates.
 3. A dispatch indicator as set forth in claim 2 andwherein the protuberances on the dial plates are in the form of smalldiameter balls which are fixedly set within commensurately shapedpockets which are formed in .[.such.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.dial plates.4. A dispatch indicator designed for application to a vehicle or othermerchandise-enclosing container and adapted to .Iadd.assume an uprightposition on the vehicle and .Iaddend.render visual shippinginstructions, said indicator comprising a housing having a rear wall, afront wall and an interconnecting continuous side wall, said front wallbeing provided with a central hub, a .Iadd.horizontal .Iaddend.shaftmounted in said hub for rotation and also limited axial sliding movementendwise therethrough, said front wall being provided with a firstviewing opening in the peripheral region thereof and with a secondviewing opening in the medial portion thereof at a region displacedradially inwardly of the first viewing opening, a relatively largediameter circular rear dial plate coaxial with said shaft and throughwhich the latter loosely projects, said large diameter dial presentingindicia sectors which are visible through said first viewing opening,said small diameter dial presenting indicia sectors which are visiblethrough said second viewing opening, spring means interposed betweensaid dial plates yieldingly biasing the same apart, a fixed reactionplate carried by said front wall for assimilating the rearward thrust ofsaid front dial plate, a fixed reaction plate carried by said rear wallfor assimilating the forward thrust of the rear dial plate, clutch meanseffective between said shaft and each dial plate for selectivelyrotating said plate in unison with the shaft depending upon the axialposition of the latter, a control knob mounted on the forward end ofsaid shaft exteriorly of the housing, at least one of said indiciasectors on one of said dial plates being subdivided into minor sectors,and a pointer arm projecting diametrically through said control knob andhaving a radial pointer proper designed for cooperation with said minorsectors, said knob being formed with clearance regions to limit theextent of swinging movement of the pointer arm with respect to saidknob.
 5. A dispatch indicator as set forth in claim 4 and wherein thepointer is provided on one end of the pointer arm and the other end ofthe pointer arm is provided with a manipulating handle.
 6. A dispatchindicator as set forth in claim 5 and including, additionally, a secondcontrol knob rotatably mounted on said front wall exteriorly of thehousing and embodying a radial pointer arm, and indicia are provided onsaid front wall in circumferentially spaced relationship relative tosaid second control knob and are designed for cooperation with saidradial pointer arm.